EAST LANSING, Mich. — The sight was a common one for Andrew Kolpacki. For many a Sunday, he would watch NFL games on TV and see quarterbacks putting their hands on their helmets, desperately trying to hear the play call from the sideline or booth as tens of thousands of fans screamed at the tops of their lungs. When the NCAA's playing rules oversight committee this past spring approved the use of coach-to-player helmet communications in games for the 2024 season, Kolpacki, Michigan State's head football equipment manager, knew the Spartans' QBs and linebackers were going to have a problem. "There had to be some sort of solution," he said. As it turns out, there was. And it was right across the street. Kolpacki reached out to Tamara Reid Bush, a mechanical engineering professor who not only heads the school's Biomechanical Design Research Laboratory but also is a football season ticket-holder. Kolpacki "showed me some photos and said that other teams had just put duct tape inside the (earhole), and he asked me, 'Do you think we can do anything better than duct tape,?" Bush said. "And I said, 'Oh, absolutely.'" Bush and Rylie DuBois, a sophomore biosystems engineering major and undergraduate research assistant at the lab, set out to produce earhole inserts made from polylactic acid, a bio-based plastic, using a 3D printer. Part of the challenge was accounting for the earhole sizes and shapes that vary depending on helmet style. Once the season got underway with a Friday night home game against Florida Atlantic on Aug. 30, the helmets of starting quarterback Aidan Chiles and linebacker Jordan Turner were outfitted with the inserts, which helped mitigate crowd noise. DuBois attended the game, sitting in the student section. "I felt such a strong sense of accomplishment and pride," DuBois said. "And I told all my friends around me about how I designed what they were wearing on the field." All told, Bush and DuBois have produced around 180 sets of the inserts, a number that grew in part due to the variety of helmet designs and colors that are available to be worn by Spartan players any given Saturday. Plus, the engineering folks have been fine-tuning their design throughout the season. Dozens of Bowl Subdivision programs are doing something similar. In many cases, they're getting 3D-printed earhole covers from XO Armor Technologies, which provides on-site, on-demand 3D printing of athletic wearables. The Auburn, Alabama-based company has donated its version of the earhole covers to the equipment managers of programs ranging from Georgia and Clemson to Boise State and Arizona State in the hope the schools would consider doing business with XO Armor in the future, said Jeff Klosterman, vice president of business development. XO Armor first was approached by the Houston Texans at the end of last season about creating something to assist quarterback C.J. Stroud in better hearing play calls delivered to his helmet during road games. XO Armor worked on a solution and had completed one when it received another inquiry: Ohio State, which had heard Michigan State was moving forward with helmet inserts, wondered if XO Armor had anything in the works. "We kind of just did this as a one-off favor to the Texans and honestly didn't forecast it becoming our viral moment in college football," Klosterman said. "We've now got about 60 teams across college football and the NFL wearing our sound-deadening earhole covers every weekend." The rules state that only one player for each team is permitted to be in communication with coaches while on the field. For the Spartans, it's typically Chiles on offense and Turner on defense. Turner prefers to have an insert in both earholes, but Chiles has asked that the insert be used in only one on his helmet. Chiles "likes to be able to feel like he has some sort of outward exposure," Kolpacki said. Exposure is something the sophomore signal-caller from Long Beach, California, had in away games against Michigan and Oregon this season. Michigan Stadium welcomed 110,000-plus fans for the Oct. 26 matchup between the in-state rivals. And while just under 60,000 packed Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, for the Ducks' 31-10 win over Michigan State three weeks earlier, it was plenty loud. "The Big Ten has some pretty impressive venues," Kolpacki said. "It can be just deafening," he said. "That's what those fans are there for is to create havoc and make it difficult for coaches to get a play call off." Something that is a bit easier to handle thanks to Bush and her team. She called the inserts a "win-win-win" for everyone. "It's exciting for me to work with athletics and the football team," she said. "I think it's really exciting for our students as well to take what they've learned and develop and design something and see it being used and executed." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy finished 26th in the 29-team Major League Soccer standings just one season ago, and their biggest supporters boycotted certain matches to protest a decade of poor performance. The most successful club in league history seemed light years away from its luminous prime. When the Galaxy raised the MLS Cup again Saturday amid confetti and fireworks, their spectacular transformation was complete. In only one year, a team that was profoundly lost had rediscovered its peerless championship pedigree. "We won this trophy, and it's finally back where it belongs," striker Dejan Joveljic said. Joseph Paintsil and Joveljic scored in the first half, and the Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls. After striking twice in the first 13 minutes of the final, the Galaxy nursed their lead through a scoreless second half to raise their league's biggest trophy for the first time since 2014. People are also reading... MLS' most successful franchise struggled through most of the ensuing years, but everything changed after LA spent smartly in the offseason to build a high-scoring new lineup topped by Paintsil, Joveljic and Gabriel Pec. The Galaxy finished second in the Western Conference and streaked through the postseason with an MLS playoff-record 18 goals in five games to win another crown. "I'm just so proud of this group after the challenges that we (had) and the way they bounced back and competed as a group," Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. "We spent a lot of energy at the start, but I'm just so proud of these guys. They've cemented themselves as legends in this club." The Galaxy even won this title without perhaps their most important player. Riqui Puig, the playmaking midfielder from Barcelona who ran their offense impressively all season long, tore a ligament in his knee last week in the conference final. Puig watched this game in a suit, but the Catalan catalyst's teammates hadn't forgotten him: After his replacement, Gastón Brugman, set up LA's opening goal with a superb pass in the ninth minute, Paintsil held up Puig's jersey to their roaring fans during the celebration. "I was really waiting for this moment," said Paintsil, who scored his 14th goal of an impressive season. "I'm much more, 10 times faster than them, and Gaston saw the space. ... It was really a good thing. We did it for Riqui, and we did it for our family that came, and our supporters." Just four minutes later, Joveljic sprinted past four New York defenders and chipped home his 21st goal. Brugman was named the MLS Cup MVP after a commanding performance in midfield. The Uruguayan hadn't started a match for the Galaxy since Oct. 5 after an injury-slowed season, playing only as a postseason substitute before the final. "I dreamed of that yesterday, of something I could give to the team," Brugman said of his pass to Paintsil. "Today, it happened." Sean Nealis scored for the seventh-seeded Red Bulls, whose improbable postseason charge ended one win shy of their first Cup championship. With the league's youngest roster, New York fell just short of becoming the lowest-seeded team to win the tournament under first-year German coach Sandro Schwarz. "I love these guys," Schwarz said. "Some guys, they are crying. In the big picture, that's a start. Sometimes when you lose the final, it's tough, but you use this experience to create the next energy, the next intensity." Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves to win his second MLS title in three seasons, but Nealis beat the 2022 MLS Cup MVP in the 28th minute when he volleyed from the penalty area. The second half was lively: Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg hit the outside of the post in the 72nd minute, while Pec and Galaxy substitute Marco Reus nearly converted chances a few moments later. The ball got loose in the Galaxy's penalty area in the third minute of extra time, but two Red Bulls couldn't finish. After Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz received the MLS Cup that bears his name because of his steady financial support of the league during its shaky years, Galaxy captain Maya Yoshida carried the trophy to his teammates for the celebration. The Galaxy extended their lead over DC United (4) for the most MLS Cup championships in league history. The Red Bulls remain one of three original MLS franchises never to win the title, along with FC Dallas and the New England Revolution. The Galaxy finished 17-0-3 this season at their frequently renamed suburban stadium, where the sellout crowd of 26,812 for the final included several robust cheering sections of Red Bulls supporters hoping to see their New Jersey-based club's breakthrough. But this season was about the Galaxy's rebirth. The club famous for employing global stars from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Robbie Keane and Javier "Chicharito" Hernández swiftly turned itself into a contender again by acquiring young talents without international fame. The Galaxy signed Pec from Brazil and grabbed Paintsil, a Ghanaian playing in Belgium. The duo combined with Joveljic to form a potent attack with orchestration from Puig, one of MLS' best players. "Losing a guy like Riqui after the performance he put in all season was devastating," McCarthy said. "Even if he wasn't on the field, we did it for him." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!PIAA Class 3A football final photos: Northwestern Lehigh vs. Avonworth, Dec. 7, 2024

Corps Members have been advised to serve as positive agents of development that would bring succour to their host communities. The NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, gave this charge in his address to Corps Members at Anambra State Orientation Camp, Mbaukwu, and Ebonyi State Orientation Camp in Afikpo. He urged them to study the needs of their host communities, seek support from the residents, and initiate laudable projects that would improve the standards of living of their hosts. This was contained in a statement signed by Caroline Embu, Acting Director, Information and Public Relations. The Director General also warned them against embarking on unauthorized and night journeys but added that they should obtain permission from the NYSC and their employers if it becomes mandatory for them to travel. “Avoid night travelling because of its dangers. Don’t board vehicles by the roadside and ensure you go to designated motorparks to board vehicles while travelling, “he said. General Ahmed further enjoined the Corps Members to make long-lasting friends and relationships during the service year, adding that they should strive to bond together and foster national unity and integration, the reason for which the NYSC was founded. He encouraged them to use the service year to plan for a better future and avoid every form of social delinquencies that could jeopardize their future. While presenting the camp situation report to the Director General, the Anambra State Coordinator, Mrs Blessing Ekene Iruma stated that all the 1,011 Corps Members comprising 412 males and 599 females had voluntarily joined the various camp committees and were participating actively in the day-to-day running of the camp. Similarly, her Ebonyi State counterpart, Mrs Foluke Oladehinde, informed General Ahmed that 535 males and 581 females took the Oath of Allegiance as administered by Hon. Justice Nicholas Nwode on behalf of the State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Elvis Ngene. “All the Corps Members are well behaved and have adapted to the regimented life in camp,” she said.After months of speculation and anticipation, Marvel fans around the world were ecstatic to hear the news that Chris Evans will be returning as Captain America for the highly anticipated Avengers 5. What's even more exciting is that Evans will be reuniting with his longtime co-star, Robert Downey Jr., who will be reprising his role as Iron Man. The dynamic duo, who captured audiences' hearts with their impeccable on-screen chemistry, are set to once again don their iconic suits and join forces to save the world.

Daniel Jones Has One Crucial Preference for His Next Team After Giants Release - Sports IllustratedNBA 2024: Every team’s Christmas wish for 2025, analysis, biggest needs, trade targets, No.1 pick race, latest newsA total of 6,771,193 worshippers and visitors performed prayers last week at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. This comes amid integrated services provided by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque to cater to the needs of the visitors. The authority-issued statistics showed that 776,805 visitors greeted the Prophet and his two companions, while 468,963 performed prayers at Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa, following organizational procedures to control crowd movement and schedule optional prayers for men and women, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The services provided multilingual communication assistance to 53,952 visitors from diverse nationalities. Multilingual assistance was one of the week’s main services, helping 53,952 visitors of different nationalities. Field services included providing 1,790 tons of Zamzam water and utilizing 30,320 liters of disinfectants for sanitation and disinfection purposes. In addition to the testing and analysis of 202 water samples. To support fasting individuals, 201,526 Iftar meals were distributed at designated locations within the Prophet’s Mosque. After the Umrah pilgrimage in Makkah , numerous pilgrims travelled to Madinah to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque and explore other Islamic landmarks. In 2023, more than 280 million worshippers prayed at the Prophet’s Mosque.So you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidays

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new stake in Kimco Realty Corp ( NYSE:KIM – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 56,124 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock, valued at approximately $1,303,000. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Quest Partners LLC grew its position in Kimco Realty by 415,100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 4,152 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $96,000 after buying an additional 4,151 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its stake in shares of Kimco Realty by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 258,593 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $6,005,000 after acquiring an additional 5,624 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Kimco Realty by 9.0% in the third quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 98,636 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $2,290,000 after acquiring an additional 8,170 shares in the last quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Kimco Realty by 4.4% during the third quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 23,969 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $557,000 after acquiring an additional 1,008 shares during the period. Finally, Metis Global Partners LLC raised its holdings in Kimco Realty by 21.3% during the third quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 104,481 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,426,000 after purchasing an additional 18,317 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.25% of the company’s stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have weighed in on KIM. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on Kimco Realty from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Monday, September 16th. Scotiabank lifted their price target on Kimco Realty from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 26th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Kimco Realty from $23.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Kimco Realty from $20.00 to $22.50 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, Compass Point raised their price objective on shares of Kimco Realty from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Kimco Realty has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $24.14. Kimco Realty Stock Performance Shares of KIM opened at $25.37 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $17.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.13, a PEG ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 1.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 3.59 and a current ratio of 3.59. Kimco Realty Corp has a 1 year low of $17.57 and a 1 year high of $25.46. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $23.91 and its 200 day simple moving average is $21.71. Kimco Realty ( NYSE:KIM – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.19 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.41 by ($0.22). Kimco Realty had a net margin of 19.58% and a return on equity of 3.68%. The business had revenue of $507.63 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $502.78 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.40 EPS. Kimco Realty’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Kimco Realty Corp will post 1.64 EPS for the current year. Kimco Realty Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 19th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 5th will be given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 5th. This is a boost from Kimco Realty’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.94%. Kimco Realty’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 174.55%. Kimco Realty Profile ( Free Report ) Kimco Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in New Hyde Park, N.Y., that is one of North America’s largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers. As of December 31, 2018, the company owned interests in 437 U.S. shopping centers comprising 76 million square feet of leasable space primarily concentrated in the top major metropolitan markets. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KIM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kimco Realty Corp ( NYSE:KIM – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Kimco Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimco Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The S&P 500 should continue its bull rally into 2025, according to strategist Ryan Detrick. Historically, the S&P 500 often sees further gains after consecutive years of more than 20% returns. A strong economy and rising corporate profits support a bullish stock market outlook. The S&P 500 surged 26% in 2023 and is on track for a 27% gain in 2024. While it may seem like 2025 has a tough act to follow, Carson Group chief market strategist Ryan Detrick says the odds are pretty high that another year of big gains is ahead for investors. In a Monday note, Detrick highlighted that history suggests stocks will likely extend their bull rally next year and deliver returns higher than their average annual return of about 10%. "The bears might be disappointed to find that strong returns after back-to-back 20% years is perfectly normal," Detrick said. Since 1950, there have been eight times the S&P 500 gains 20% or more two years in a row. In six of those eight times, the third year saw positive gains, with an overall average and median return of 12% and 13%, respectively. "The bottom line is up 20% two years in a row actually suggests the potential for better than average returns in 2025, something we are on record in expecting next year," Detrick said. The fundamental reasons behind Detrick's bullish view on the stock market next year include an overall solid economy and rising corporate profits. "When you have an economy that continues to surprise to the upside, you tend to have solid earnings," Detrick said, adding that the S&P 500's earnings per share is expected to hit $269 next year, up 19% from early 2023. "There is no holy grail when it comes to investing, but when we saw earnings estimates making new highs, we took it as a big reason to be overweight equities and still do," Detrick said. Finally, Detrick said that "bull markets last longer than you think" with an average age of 5-and-a-half years. With the current bull market turning two years old in October, Detrick said that suggests there is plenty of runway ahead for the stock market, even after the last two years experienced a stellar bull rally.US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who led US crackdown on cryptocurrencies, to step down Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler will step down from his post on January 20. Since taking the lead at the SEC, the commission has been aggressive in its oversight of cryptocurrencies and other regulatory issues. President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he would remove Gensler, who has led the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry and repeatedly called for more oversight. But Gensler on Thursday announced that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated. Bitcoin has jumped 40% since Trump’s victory. Elon Musk's budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump's second term WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has put Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in charge of finding ways to cut government spending and regulations. It's possible that their efforts will lead to a constitutional clash. This week, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would encourage the Republican president-elect to refuse to spend money allocated by Congress, which would conflict with a 1974 law that's intended to prevent presidents from blocking funds. If Trump takes such a step, it would quickly become one of the most closely watched legal battles of his second administration. Musk and Ramaswamy also aim to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Stock market today: Wall Street climbs as bitcoin bursts above $99,000 NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are climbing after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 was pulling 0.7% higher Thursday after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 532 points, or 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.2%. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market. The biggest remaining unsanctioned Russian bank hit with U.S. sanctions, nearly three years into war WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia’s third largest bank, Gazprombank and its six foreign subsidiaries were hit with U.S. sanctions on Thursday. The action is intended to curtail Russia’s ability to evade the thousands of sanctions imposed on the nation since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the sanctions targeting Russia’s largest remaining non-sanctioned bank would further diminish Russia’s military effort and “will make it harder for the Kremlin to evade U.S. sanctions and fund and equip its military.” In addition, more than 50 internationally connected Russian banks 40 Russian securities registrars, and 15 Russian finance officials were hit with sanctions. Trump's incoming chief of staff is a former lobbyist. She'll face a raft of special interests WASHINGTON (AP) — As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, his election victory is likely to embolden those who think they can get his ear. There's the prospect that his second administration could face many of the same perils as his first, when there were influence-peddling scandals. That will test the ability of Susie Wiles, his incoming chief of staff, to manage a growing number of high-powered figures such as Trump’s children, son-in-law Jared Kushner and billionaires like Elon Musk. Wiles herself is a former lobbyist, but Trump's transition team rejected any suggestion that her past work would make her susceptible to pressure. House passes bill that would allow Treasury to target nonprofits it deems to support terrorism WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House passed legislation that would give the Treasury Department unilateral authority to strip the tax-exempt status of nonprofits it claims support terrorism. It is a proposal that has alarmed civil liberties groups about how a second Trump presidency could use it to punish political opponents. The bill passed 219-184, with the majority of the support coming from Republicans who accused Democrats of reversing course in their support for the “common sense” proposal only after Donald Trump was elected to a second term earlier this month. It now goes to the Democratic-controlled Senate where its fate is uncertain. Boar's Head listeria outbreak is over with 10 dead and dozens sickened by tainted deli meat U.S. health officials say a deadly outbreak of listeria food poisoning tied to a massive recall of popular Boar's Head deli meats is over. Ten people died and 61 were sickened in 19 states in the outbreak. Illnesses were reported between late May and mid-September. The outbreak is considered over 60 days after the last reported illness. Boar's Head officials recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meat distributed nationwide, shuttered a Virginia plant that made the products and permanently stopped making liverwurst. The company continues to face lawsuits and federal scrutiny.

With the return of "Final Destination 6," the horror genre is set to receive a jolt of excitement and terror that fans have been longing for. As the countdown to the film's release begins, audiences can expect to be on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the deadly twists and turns that await them in this long-awaited sequel.

LAS VEGAS -- LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.’’ Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." ___ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racingOur high sports photos, like the ones above, put you in the middle of the action. Check them out by clicking anywhere in the collage to open the photo gallery. Don’t forget to share the gallery with friends and family. 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ASX avoids Christmas trading blunder as markets set for soft open

LA Galaxy wins record 6th MLS Cup

ASX avoids Christmas trading blunder as markets set for soft openQ. I recently retired as a customer service specialist in the healthcare industry. I loved my work, the connection to people and feeling I made a difference. I have been slow to look for volunteer work. When I finally decided to do so, I could not find the right fit. Any suggestions? L.G Great news, you made the decision to volunteer. In addition to doing good for individuals or organizations, volunteering in later life has many personal benefits, and that’s for the volunteer. Here are a few reasons to volunteer: Promotes physical and mental health. We know aging ultimately is a declining and gradual process. Volunteering can counter the risk of decline of one’s physical health, reducing risks of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment and even mortality. That’s according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine . The National Institute on Aging reports that volunteering also can affect cognitive aging by keeping the brain engaged, thereby lowering the risk of dementia. Prevents loneliness. Social isolation is a major challenge for many older adults and is considered a public health crisis , according to the U.S. Surgeon General. Volunteering can be part of the solution by providing opportunities to socialize and even make best friends. It can support those suffering from depression. Those who volunteer report their depression is shorter compared to those who do not volunteer, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service . Provides a feeling of purpose. For many, retirement can be a period of relief and at the same time, uncertainty about one’s purpose. In the workplace, purpose typically is well defined. In retirement, not so much. Volunteering can be a reason to get up in the morning, to make a difference or have an opportunity to learn something new. It can help a person feel recharged and needed. Reduces the rate of aging. Individuals age at different rates. According to a study by Associate Professor Cal Halverson at Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, even a small amount of volunteering is linked to slowing the acceleration of biological aging among retirees, even more than for working folks. Volunteers in the study just aged a bit slower. Bridges the generation gap. Interacting with younger generations provides older adults the opportunity to share life lessons. At the same time, younger generations can offer older adults a new way of looking at life that incudes technology. Respect and affirmation are most often shared by both. Here are a few resources that promote intergenerational relationships. CoGenerate, a nonprofit organization, features new multigenerational initiatives and research. See https://cogenerate.org/ . Then there is Sages and Seekers that connects young people with vetted older mentors for weekly virtual conversations. Eldera is a global virtual village where generations come together to connect, learn from each other, have fun and at the same time, create a better future. Now ask yourself a few questions. What do I love to do? Is it working with older adults, children or those with challenges? Do I prefer an outdoor volunteer experience as opposed to spending time in an office, workroom or even remotely. Do I want a hands-on experience or working at a board or policy level?? How many hours a week or days do I want? Am I comfortable making a commitment? Most communities are rich with volunteer resources. One example is the South Bay, Harbor and Long Beach Volunteer Center. It connects volunteers to over 20 organizations that need and welcome volunteers in areas of gardening, education, those with special needs, history and the arts. Also check out Volunteer Match with opportunities linked to your geographic area. AmeriCorps Seniors , a network of volunteer programs for Americans 55 years and older, is another option. Volunteers work in their community and are engaged in academic tutoring and mentoring, elder care, disaster relief, and more. They also are the umbrella organization for the Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP and Senior Companion Program. And don’t forget to check volunteer opportunities at your local hospital, library, school district, botanical gardens as well as art museums. Use your network. If you know someone who has an interesting volunteer position or experience, meet with that individual and learn about possibilities. Finding the right volunteer position takes research, networking and more than that, it involves taking a risk. Know you have nothing to lose. One thing is clear, whatever you chose, you are bringing your life experience and knowledge with you. So, before you even begin, you are an asset. Stay well, enjoy the holiday season and know, “No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of others.” ~ Joseph Addison, English poet, playwright and politician. (1672-1719). Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com . Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity

'Close them all': Calls for closure of foreign-owned spaza shops mountNEW YORK (AP) — There's no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the very contentious and divisive 2024 presidential election, the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the winter holiday season could be a boon for some — a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones. Hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives. Another chapter in a lifetime of memories. That's one scenario. For others, that same period — particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign — is something to dread. There is the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words, hurt feelings and raised voices looming large. Those who make a study of people and their relationships to each other in an increasingly complex 21st-century say there are choices that those with potentially fraught personal situations can make — things to do and things to avoid — that could help them and their families get through this time with a minimum of open conflict and a chance at getting to the point of the holidays in the first place. For those who feel strongly about the election's outcome, and know that the people they would be spending the holiday feel just as strongly in the other direction, take the time to honestly assess if you're ready to spend time together in THIS moment, barely a few weeks after Election Day — and a time when feelings are still running high. The answer might be that you're not, and it might be better to take a temporary break, says Justin Jones-Fosu, author of “I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World.” “You have to assess your own readiness,” he says, “Each person is going be very different in this.” He emphasizes that it's not about taking a permanent step back. “Right now is that moment that we’re talking about because it’s still so fresh. Christmas may be different.” Keep focused on why why you decided to go in the first place, Jones-Fosu says. Maybe it’s because there’s a relative there you don’t get to see often, or a loved one is getting up in age, or your kids want to see their cousins. Keeping that reason in mind could help you get through the time. If you decide getting together is the way to go, but you know politics is still a dicey subject, set a goal of making the holiday a politics-free zone and stick with it, says Karl Pillemer, a professor at Cornell University whose work includes research on family estrangement. “Will a political conversation change anyone’s mind?" he says. “If there is no possibility of changing anyone’s mind, then create a demilitarized zone and don’t talk about it.” Let’s be honest. Sometimes, despite best efforts and intentions to keep the holiday gathering politics- and drama-free, there’s someone who’s got something to say and is going to say it. In that case, avoid getting drawn into it, says Tracy Hutchinson, a professor in the graduate clinical mental health counseling program at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. “Not to take the hook is one of the most important things, and it is challenging,” she says. After all, you don’t have to go to every argument you’re invited to. If you risk getting caught up in the moment, consider engaging in what Pillemer calls “forward mapping.” This involves thinking medium and long term rather than just about right now — strategy rather than tactics. Maybe imagine yourself six months from now looking back on the dinner and thinking about the memories you'd want to have. “Think about how you would like to remember this holiday,” he says. “Do you want to remember it with your brother and sister-in-law storming out and going home because you’ve had a two-hour argument?” Things getting intense? Defuse the situation. Walk away. And it doesn't have to be in a huff. Sometimes a calm and collected time out is just what you — and the family — might need. Says Hutchinson: “If they do start to do something like that, you could say, `I’ve got to make this phone call. I’ve got to go to the bathroom. I’m going to take a walk around the block.'"Belfast has enjoyed an incredible transformation in recent decades: from strife-torn city to one of Europe’s coolest new destinations, and its tourism boom is anchored around three “Ts”: Titanic, Thrones and Troubles. There’s Titanic Belfast, a brilliant immersive attraction in the very shipyard where the vessel was built; numerous filming locations for Game of Thrones fans; and the sobering tales and former hotspots of the Troubles, the sectarian conflict that beset Belfast between the late 1960s and 1998. Dolores Vischer leads the Belfast Music Walking Tour. Northern Ireland’s capital also increasingly strikes a chord with folk seeking culture, festivals and gigs. Home to more than 100 live venues – from opulent theatres and futuristic auditoriums to craic-fuelled pubs and the sportsfield where Bruce Springsteen played to a 40,000-strong crowd in May 2024 – Belfast was made a UNESCO City of Music in 2021, with the award providing impetus for up-and-coming local musicians and sparking a late career change for one resident in her 60s. “Music was always my passion – writing songs, playing drums, singing in a choir, so this was the perfect opportunity to follow that passion,” says Dolores Vischer, who swapped roles in publishing and communications to become a qualified guide to Belfast’s vibrant arts scene and musical heritage. We join her popular Belfast Music Walking tour, a leisurely music-themed stroll accompanied by a soundtrack, starting at the Ulster Hall, an elegant Victorian concert hall that has staged everyone from the Rolling Stones and AC/DC to Johnny Cash and Belfast’s own Van Morrison. “Led Zeppelin played Stairway to Heaven here for the very first time in 1971,” says Vischer, who points out Ulster Hall’s 1860s pipe organ and plaques honouring musicians. One is Ruby Murray, “Belfast’s first pop princess”. Explaining that her name was adopted for “curry” in Cockney rhyming slang, Dolores plays us Murray’s Softly Softly , No.1 in the UK singles charts in 1955. Tracks from other Northern Irish legends, plus emerging stars like Dani Larkin and Problem Patterns, float from Vischer’s portable speakers as we shuffle through Belfast, pausing at points of sonic interest, sometimes with our hips swaying and toes tapping. Ulster Hall is a lauded venue for live bands. We see teenagers taking turns to play the grand piano at 2 Royal Avenue, a new creative and community space in a domed former bank that was most recently a supermarket. “Gary Lightbody, frontman of Snow Patrol, said music is in Belfast’s DNA and I’d say we probably have more people who sing or play something than in most cities of this size,” says Vischer, before we jig by Kelly’s Cellars, a 300-year-old watering hole that hosts traditional Irish music. Around the corner, we take a pew in the First Church Belfast, founded by 17th-century Presbyterians and renowned for its spine-tingling concerts and acoustics. The Northern Ireland Opera, led by Australian-born director Cameron Menzies, previously of the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, occasionally performs here. We traverse the cobbled lanes of the Cathedral Quarter, an enclave of bars, hip cafes and Michelin-starred restaurants. Vischer shows us a black-and-white photograph of the area, looking distinctly more derelict, during the Troubles, and describes how Belfast’s music scene was kept alive in the 1970s and ’80s by punk bands such as Stiff Little Fingers, The Undertones and Terri Hooley, founder of the Good Vibrations music shop and record label (he was portrayed by Game of Thrones’ Richard Dormer in 2013 film Good Vibrations ). Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Cathedral Quarter’s newest boutique hotel The Foundry is on the site of the Harp Bar, where punk bands played. It’s located next to arts hub The Black Box and is a saxophone’s throw from Berts Jazz Bar, Belfast’s only dedicated jazz bar-restaurant, inside the plush Merchant Hotel. After The Undertones’ rollicking Teenage Kicks , Vischer plays us Oh Yeah by Ash, a power-pop three-piece from Downpatrick, south of Belfast. Ash were just out of their teens, and already UK chart-toppers, when they played alongside U2 at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall in May 1998 to promote the Yes vote in the referendum for the Good Friday Agreement, a deal designed to end the Troubles and bring peace to the province. Later, we watch the Ulster Orchestra perform Star Wars scores at the Waterfront Hall, but first we hit the Oh Yeah Music Centre, a cherished grassroots music hub in a converted whisky warehouse. It’s home to recording studios, a vinyl store and an exhibition jammed with instruments, outfits and snaps of influential Northern Irish musicians, including Van Morrison, Them and Gary Moore. The centre also hosts intimate gigs. Ash launched their latest album, Race the Night, here last year. To round off the tour, we enjoy locally-brewed craft ales and an acoustic show by Aqua Tofana, a young Belfast-based singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer. The Oh Yeah Music Centre features exhibitions about Belfast’s musical history. You don’t have to walk far to catch a live act in Belfast – browse the listings or just follow your ears – but I’d recommend coming in early May when the city has a spring in its step and feels a bit like a mini-Edinburgh with several of its annual festivals running concurrently. These include the Festival of Fools (street theatre and acrobats), Hit The North (a street art festival) and the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival where, across multiple locations, you can catch musicians, comedians, poets, magicians, film screenings and book readings. Venues range from a riverside marquee to friendly backstreet boozers like The Sunflower, which sports a striking green security cage by its entrance, a relic of the Troubles, when patrons would have to be scrutinised by staff before they entered the bar. It’s purely ornamental now, a nod to the bad old days and a symbol of just how far buoyant Belfast has come. Five more things to do in and around Belfast Stormont Estate Stormont Estate, the site of Northern Ireland’s main Parliament Buildings. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto See where the politicians of Northern Ireland’s devolved government face off (and admire the decadent interior design) on a free tour of the neoclassical parliament building set amid parkland east of the city. See niassembly.gov.uk Mcconnell’s Distillery Reviving a whisky brand established in Belfast in 1776, this brand-new distillery offers tours and tastings in a converted wing of Crumlin Road Gaol, a once-notorious prison that has self-guided tours. See mcconnellsirishwhisky.com ; crumlinroadgaol.com Strangford Lough Edged by National Trust mansions, rolling hills and storybook villages, this island-speckled sea inlet south of Belfast was the backdrop for Bloodlands , a television drama starring James Nesbitt. It’s good for boat trips, kayaking and birding. See strangfordloughactivitycentre.com Hillsborough Castle Also south of Belfast is the royal family’s residence in Northern Ireland. Wander the manicured gardens and tour the Georgian property’s lavishly-furnished rooms, hung with paintings by artists including Anthony van Dyck, Joshua Reynolds and King Charles III. See hrp.org.uk/hillsborough-castle Antrim Coast From quaint fishing harbours to the hulking basalt columns of Giant’s Causeway, plus various Game of Thrones filming locations, the seaside north of Belfast is a delight. Follow the coast round to Londonderry, another once-troubled city reborn. See visitcausewaycoastandglens.com The details Fly Qantas flies to Belfast from Sydney and Melbourne via Perth or Singapore and London Heathrow. Alternatively, fly to Dublin with Emirates via Dubai and take an airport express coach (about two hours) to Belfast. If visiting Britain first, most city airports, including London, Manchester and Birmingham, have regular flights to Belfast. See qantas.com.au ; emirates.com/au Tour The Belfast Music Walking Tour is held fortnightly on Saturdays and costs £20 ($39). See creativetoursbelfast.com ; deetoursireland.com Stay The Merchant Hotel has rooms from around £239 ($469) a night. The centrally located Belfast Hometel has studios with kitchens from around £146 a night. See themerchanthotel.com ; room2.com/belfast Eat Run by celebrity chef Danny Millar, Stock has enticing seasonal menus and daily fish, meat and vegetarian specials. It overlooks St George’s Market, which sells fresh produce, cakes and arts and crafts, Friday to Sunday. At Home, a cosy restaurant behind Belfast City Hall, expect dishes such as rump of local Mourne lamb and roast monkfish with crab bouillabaisse. See stockbelfast.com ; homebelfast.co.uk More visitbelfast.com ; discovernorthernireland.com ; ireland.com The writer travelled as a guest of Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland.